The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-29
Ikef nnAp.sA.s .rer. stRIks.
His Million Dollar Invention Spoiled by
Great Greedy Fish.

His Million Dollar Invention Spoiled by
Great Greedy Fish.
Old Ike Bradisli was an inveterate fish
crnan, and if he had any scientific edn-
cation would have been an inventor and
made his mark-though for that matter
he always made his mark anyhow. And
while sitting in his boat, watching the
spor.ivc bob and silently munching lis
favoritc brand Of plug tobacco, his busy
brain teemed with enterprises Of gigantic
proportions. He had always had it in
mind to astonish the world with sore
wonderful production of his genius, for
which his unalterable price was to be
$1,000, 900. For time he had endeav-
cred to interest Mrs. Bradish in these
plans, but that matter of fact woman
was somewhat skeptical of her husbands
abilities, and would usually respond TO
his glowing representations with more
or less pointed reference to splitting wood
OF other humiliating chores about the
house.
Old Ike had attended philosophical
lecture somewhere, ut which the profess
cor had held up glass tube filled with
water, with his thumb over the top. So
long as the thumb was kept in place the
water remained in the tabc, though the
lower end Of the tube was open. Upon
this principle Old Ike had endeavored to
perfect q pump which would raise its own
water, and devoted weeks to its pcrfcc-
ton. AT last it was all completes; the
column OF water was retained in the pipe,
and the old fellows heart beat regular
gallop as nc turned the faucet ia antici-
patton Of u constantly flowing well. But
instead Of tie water rushing out of tho
faucet, tho cir rushed in, and the inven-
tors hopes sank with the water into the
Svashtub. f.t Nh nF Alh a-3 .
A turbine water wheel, that was to he
driven by tho water it pumped, proved
another miserable failure, and for nearly
year the old man was in the dumps. N
AT last, however, he struck his gait.
He had observed that the sports who
came to fish CcmuIred at the cost of boat
hire, and he reasoned that nobody could
enjoy days fishing when they were all
the time reminded that the boat was cost
ing twenty-five cents an hour, while hour
after hour sped by and they s'nevcr caught
clam. ?. Old Ike set the machinery of
his fertile brain to work, and at last
''struck' it. Observing the greatest Sc
crecy in all his movements, lest some
sharper should get the idea and secure
patent ahead Of him, he set to work
Days went by, and all else was neglected.
Mrs. Bradish fairly stormed at the way
''the old coot was allowin' things to 20
to rack and rllin," but it didn't bulge
the old man; he stuck to his little shop.
At length one day tho old man issued
from his retreat, He had incubated and
brought forth pair OF extension stills!
With these under one arm and long sit
ting polo and fishing rod in hand he took
his way 20 tho sioping banks of the lake.
FaStcnlr.c.: ca the stills. he began wading
out. kc The water increased in depth
and came nccrer his feet he would lean
upon his pole and put in another extern
sion. The stills were made nearly thirty
feet high, and when nearly mile from
shore old Ike took q position, wet his lips
from q bottle of cold tea, took fresh
chew, spit on his bait and cast in. For
fifteen minutes he laughed as though his
heart would break, not caring copper
whether he ever caught o fish or not.
lilc tnlDS was II SUCCESS, anu TIC neeun
ever do another days work.
But at that moment he got bite! And
it seemed as though it must be whale.
He was drawn forward by the struggle
of the fish and the sitting pole fell from
under him. ~ r ~ ~ f -ta-
Luckily some boys in a sail boat, at
tracted by the strange spectacle of o man
sitting serenely fishing in thirty feet Of
water nearly mile from shore. were
bearing down ON the spot, and happily
were just in time.p They seized hold of
the two long extension legs that lad been
gyrating in the air for some moments and
at last found Old Ike ut the end of them.
He was not dead, but decidedly discour-
aged. Detroit Free Press.